Fireproof door



w. H` WHEELER.

' FIREPROOF DOOR.

APPLICUION4 FILED JUNE 8, i920.

y Patented May 10,1921.

u irse si* `Y WILLIAM E. WHEELER, E NEW YORK, N. Y. Y

EiRErRooE DooR.`

1,377,293. i f f To all whom it may cof/warn: i y

Be it known that I,VV1LLIAM H. WHEELER,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the 4county and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Firepr-oof Doors, off Y which 'the following is a specification.' g n rlhis invention relatestoireproof doors of that class in which the structure employs a fireproof composition Vmaterial inclosed 1 within a metallic surfacesheathing, and it has Vfor its objectto providean improved fireproof door of this ycharacter which will afford advantages especially in respect to lightness and strength, facility and economy in manufacture, simplicity and inexpensive-L e' ness in construction, and the maximum of` effectiveness and general eliiciencyin use. i.

In the drawings- Figure l is aifacezview of a portion of a door embodying my improvements, partly broken away to show. the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal cross-section,

on the line co-x, Fig. l. Y

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical cross-section, onv the line y-y, Fig. 2. ,y Fig. 4 is a detail vertical cross-section,on

, the line @#2, Fig. 2.

Corresponding parts in all the figures arev denoted by the same reference characters. Y Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a panel sheet, whichconstitutes the main porltion of the door and which is formed of a rigid non-metallic compositiom of low heat conductivity and of fireproof quality, for which purpose .I prefer to use the composition which is commercially known as alignum. and is substantially undeformable by stance which'is molded into shapek and com-VV pressed and dried in a rigid structure.` vl5 kheat and which is constituted by a suitable filler including asbestos and combined with a repi'oof binder to produce a plastic sub- Y covered by a metallic sheathing preferably consistingk of steel sheets, 2 2, -secured tov the face of1the composition panelr body. The surface sheathing is' in practice secured to Ithe composition panel body at all 'points Aof its face area, the preferred method being by cementing the steel sheets to the panel body, whereby the metallic sheathing is ef-i" TS TENT 4 n Specicatoiilof Letters YPatent f 1921` e Appiieation mea Janes, 19'20"."y serial liao. 387,405. i

fectively bonded tothe composition body in,..-`

such manner as to preclude possibilityofv rusting'or corrosion of the steel by damp. intervening air spaces, and also eliminating a metallic ringfin the door structure` or a' wavy appearance of the surface sheath-'gr` 1iig,fandk affording a greater strength and stiffness than if the steel sheets were` simply I laid on the composition panel body and se cured thereto at separate=points Itwill be noted that thepanel sheet with j` its metallic surface sheathing yextends to the, very edge of the door structure, whereby enhanced strength and resistance to strainsis effected.

The edg of the body Panel 1 is surround?V` tively placed against the facesof theedge ed bya frame, at the edge of thedoor, which is formed by bars or stil-es, 3-?, respecportion ofthe panelbody, which lbars or .Y stiles are of .suitable thickness and are formed of a rigidnon-imetalliccomposition f Said bars of the edge frame or structure are corresponding to thatjo-f the* panel sheet; Y

preferably covered Vby aV metallic sheathing,

' as at l, preferablyoonsisting of a steel. plate which extends overfthesurface of the -bar l* or stile except` at its inner face, whichmetallic plates are preferablyllocked into the composition body of the bar by a turned 'oi' y angular edge, as at 5Which enters the composition body during the process of forming and compressing. the same intovshape,

but this metallic sheathing forthe bars or,

stiles` is no t an essential feature of the struc-z.. ture and `is employed under ypreferred conditioiis as an additional medium' foren- 1 strains. e

hancementof strength-sand resistanceV tov The bars or stiles'r3%3 extend longitudijV nally` at the edge -of thefdoor, and are mounttending` through Lboth Stiles and thev panelv ed in securedrl'connection with the panel` Y.body 1 by means of transverse bolts, 6, ex#

body. The bolts engage nuts, 7, constituted by a rectangular metallic plate countersunk in ay corresponding recess'in the outer `face of the stile 3,'saidbolt-plates being pref-- e process of molderably embedded in the pllastic composition body of the stile during t ing and compressing the same into shape. The nuts arethus buried within the compo'- tention of the nut is necessary inthe process sition .body and are held fast, :so thatno ref f, .1.

of screwingthelbolt home into engagement therewith. The boltshave a iiafthead, 8, corresponding to a screw head, which is countersunk at the outer Vface-of the baryvor stile 8 an'disV Hush with;r the surface thereof.

Inpractice, the' metalli-c sheathing plate 4. is relatively thinfand the composition bodyl L ofsthestile is. of such a nature that thev .be-'bentin .sufficientlyto Vform the depresand thus' conserves'.thejstrength afforded by each other, as sho-wn.

thelatter. `,The bolts and nutsare provided` at intervals, preferably in two parallel series ,fwhi-ch are staggeredA with relation to The Whole edgei-framel Y above described, --is covered by `a metallic surface sheathing, which preferably YV-consiste of a steel sheet, 9, said metallic sheet y n' y tallic brace strip 18, as Justdefined, permits being preferably thin and being bent around kto cover the outer edge face, as at 10, ofthe yframe vformedby the bars or stiles 3-3, theV side `faces'thereof,` as at 11--11, thusy con-k cealing theV headsof the bolts and the embedded nuts, .and the inner edge faces, asfat 12;-12', of the frame.

, The edge-framesheathing9 fits closely in y its,relationshiptoqtheinclosed frame struc-7 ture, to provide anauxiliary stiffening me# dia forjthelatter, and when locked in po`y sition servesfto yseal the,A whole frame structure in'V its relationship of parts.vr Said sheathinggplate 9is locked or sealed at Vits' terminal edges at the inneredge-faces of the frameadjacent the panel sheet 1', for which 'purpose its terminal end Y edges, 14-14,

i Vare turned outwardly and maybe soldered ,i securingcomprises metallic strips 15-15,

'fao

or otherwise securedin position. TheV preferred construction, however, for locking or Vwhichi'naybe formed of relatively thinl steel plates, inserted. between the face of the bars or Stiles Y 3 '8 and" the metallic sheathed panel body 1 before the parts are bolted and s v' secured together. Said strips or plates l5-'w15 have theirV endledges, 16, projecting *at the inner edgeL-face ofgtheV frame'structure, and theseend edges are bent outwardly and'downwardly over. Y the terminal endf -edges ltll'of the 9,as at` 17g-4,17, to lock and seal the latter y edge-frame sheathing in position. i

Yl: -will knowY l describe l aleading feature ofk my invent-ionfwith relation to thetype of door to which my; improvements relate',

-' f This featurecco'nsists of ametallic strip, 18,

preferably f steel, in plate kform and relatively Y; Athick,which extends along the edge of the door and is interposed between the outer and A efficiency of the end of they edge-frame 'and' the portion 10 ofthe edge-frame sheathing 9 which extends Vat the outeredge face. Said steel strip 1S extends longitudinally 'of the edge of the door and coincident with the area thereof, andjis thus inclosed within they frame sheathing 9 'and positionally retained thereby, and its operation is to enhance the stiffness :and

strength of the door against fieXure or V`strains and to increasefthe resistance of the edge ofthe door against accidental blows or other conditions'ofservice or use.V The strip 18 thus acts normally as a bracing element, and is not attached rigidly by fastening' means to the door structure butris in a `sense a floating or loose element which is simply retained by its inclosure within they frame .sheathing 9, though under some conditions of use its positional status may be enhanced by a singley or slight fastening,

n l i j such as a single screw attaching it tothe structure, asV

edge-frame structure, which will not substantially affect its operative function ask a' "iioating or relatively loose element. The operative floating characteristic of thc me-k doorfare'formed, under subjection to high temperaturessuch as would occur in a fire. There is therefore no tendency under the f expansionaction of the brace and strength eniiigstrip 18 rto cause buckling orwarping ofthe main composition structure of the.

door in ,a re,'which buckling or warping would decrease the efficiency, of the door. structure in its resistance against the conyditions of a fire andin its office as an effective yclosure under such conditions. But in its normal service under ordinary conditions of use thefioating steel strip operates as. an effective brace and stiffening resistance against shocks ar strains direct at the edge ofthe door or ,laterally at the sides thereof, and thus enhances the strength andfrigidity 1 entire door structure.`

lso, under 4conditions of fire, the expanf` sion ofthefmetallicedgeframe sheathing 94 will'not' cause the main composition structure of thedoor to buckle or warp, as this sheathing beingof relatively thin gage steel can expand toa greaterdegree thanthe composition material without sufficient' force todraw upon the latter andcause a buck.

ling or warpingthereof, but the thinfsteel' sheet will itselfbuckle locally in waves. y

Under the conditions vas above set forth,`

V the integrity and service of the main com position door structure in a fire is therefore i not dependent upon either the'l'metallic edge` frame V sheathing plate 9 or the metallic brace 'and stifl'ening'- strip 1.8, butwill be iso nemesis! unaffected by the-lexpansion of these metallicV elements,` VVVThe enhanced strength and stiffness and resista-nce afforded` by said metallic elements are of service only when the door is `in normal conditionsof use and liable to shocks or strains or when open.` AVVheirclosed, asis the case with these? protective doorsY during afire, thefcompositioni f door structure is-vsupported i'bythe"door*` frame, andunder conditionsfof fire the inetallic elements asjust referred tof-areL notdesigned to be operatveva'ndV are not`r essenj tialv to the integrity and effective'service of the door, nor is the'latter afl'ectedbyfthe kso high degree of expansion which would then ensue in said metallic elements.v

sheathing 9 can be then-opened and saidsheathing as well as tliemetallicbrace strip* 18 removed from position, after which the outer edge of the composition frame'can be reduced to limit theA size ofthe door or a strip canbe placed atvsaid edge to enlarge the size of the door, and then the metallic i brace strip 18 andthe edge-frame sheathing 9 can be returned to normal position. In*

this connection it will be understood that the composition material of which the bars or stiles 3-3 and the panel sheet 1 are formed is readily workable in the same manner asr ordinary lumber.

The operation.y and advantages of mylinvention will be readily understood'bythoseY skilled in the art to which it appertains. The structure enables convenient and comparatively inexpensive and rapid manufac- Y ture of the door in simpley successive steps, and in the described association of the metallic elements affords great strength and rigidity and resistance to all normal conditions of shock or strain in ordinary service or use,

and under conditions of fire the expansion of the metallic elements will notafl'ectV the integrity of the composition door structure but the latter will effectivelyserve its oiiice and retain its normal status of resistance without buckling or warping; f

Having thus described my` invention, I

i claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A fireproof door of the class described, comprising an edge-frame constituted by bars or stiles formed of a rigid non-metallic composition, a relatively-thin metallic plate forming a surface sheathing for said/edgeframe, and a relatively-thick metallic strip extending at the outer edge of said frame and positionally retained by said surface c '2, 'Affirleproof sheathingYV f` plate, said .ljstripfhaving a .'siibl stantially,y floating or loose statu's relative to the-frame? "J comprising: an-edgeframe constituted "by bars or stiles formed o-f a rigidnonmetallicll" composition, a *relatively-thin metallic plate i c 35x door of covering the surface 1of 'sai`d1. edgefra'i ne ati its outer face and side faces and inner ,faces and having its terminaly end edges `locked or sealed at the inner face of the edgeframeto retain said syurfacesheathing in position, and'V a relatively-thick 'metallici strip insertedbef tween the outer face of the'edge-frameandj` I theouter portion of said surface sheathing and [extending longitudinallyof the edge and*` positionally retained byfsaidsurface sheatli`` ing plate in a substantially `iozviting or', loose statusrelative vto the frame 53, A Vrep'roof door yofthe class described, y

comprising an 'edge-frame constituted lbyV Y composition,` a panel or body l member likewise formed-of a rigid non-metallic 'composi-y tion andin'serted between said-bars or 'stiles' and secured in 4 connection therewith, av rela tively-thin metallic plate 'forming .a surface bars orfstiles formed-oa rigid non-metallic sheathing 'covering said edge-frame and havy' ing its terminal end edgeslocked or sealed fr at theinner 'faces'of the edge-'frame to retain said sheathingfinposition, and a relatively#V Vthicl metallic .strip inserted between the outer face of said edge-frame and the outer portion of said surface sheathing and positionally retained by said sheathing plate in a substantially floating or loose Vstatus relative to the frame.

4. A nreproof door of the class described, comprising an edge-frame constituted by bars or stiles formed of arigid non-metallic composition, a planel body sheet formed of a rigid non-meta ic composition and inserted between said bars. or stiles and extending to the outer edge of said frame, means extending transversely through said bars or Stiles and the panel sheet to secure said composition elements together, a relatively-thin metallic plate forming a surface sheathing for said edge-iframe and covering said securing means, means for fastening or sealing the terminal end edges of said surface sheathing at theV inner vfaces of the edge-frame, and a relatively-thick metallic v'strip inserted between the outer face of the edge-frame and the outer portion' of said surface sheathing and positionally .retained by said sheathing K in a substantially floating or loose status relative tothe frame. v

5. A ireproof door of the class described, comprising an edge-frame constituted by bars or stiles formed of a rigidnon-metallicv composition, a panel or body portion formed of a rigid non-metallic composition and in connection with saidedge-frame, means eX- tending transversely through said composition elements for; securing said panel'body"- andA said-bars orgstiles. together, a plate eX tending over and nclosing said composition elements and forming a surface sheathing 1for2said edge.-frame,A andV a metallic strip ini- 'f serted between the outerV faceof said edgei frame and theouterfportion of said metallic f sheathing and vp'ositionally retained by said ik lsheathing. Y v

6.' "A-ireproof door of the class described, f comprising an edge-frame constituted` by barsfor stiles formed of arigid non-metallic e composition,a panel or body member formed Aof. a rigidgnon-metallic composition and eX,- tending Within said edge-frame',and to the vouter face thereofvv transverse"y securing means extending through said composition elements toA secure the panel body'and'bars or stilesftogethera metallic plate covering fand inclosing said composition elements and n -lastening` means and lforming aV surface sheathingfor the edge-frame, lmeans for locking orY sealing the terminal end edges of said sheathing Yplateatthe inner faces of the edge-frame, and a metallicstrip inserted between theiouter'face ofthe edge-frame and i ,the vouter portion' ofsaid surface sheathing and positionally retained by said sheathing f A plate. i' -30` f 7.*.Aireproof door ofthe class described,

comprising an ,edge-frame. constituted by f Y foregoing -specilcation bars or Stiles formed of a rigid non-metallic y composition', a panel or body'member formed of a rigid non-metallic composition and ex-y p tending vWithin said edge-frame and to the outerv face thereof, nut members embedded e Within theouter face of saidbars or stiles,

ltransverse bolts extending through said composition elements and engaging. saidl nut f s members to secure the barsor stilesand the '-.elementssecured-together, a metallic brace' strip or Yplate extending at the outerffaceof.

the edgeofsaid composition structure and having substantiallyy floating or loose 'status' relative thereto, and a metallic sheathing extending-over and inclosing said brace stri Wit said composition structure. y

In testimony whereof I have signed the WILLIAM H. WHEELER.

and positionally secured in connection 

